Rail grinding machine for grinding rails of a track

ABSTRACT

A rail grinding machine for grinding rails of a track has a machine frame, on which guide rollers for manual movement of the rail grinding machine in a longitudinal direction are mounted. By use of a cross slide, which is mounted on the machine frame, a grinding unit can be moved in a transverse direction. The cross slide contains a closed cross slide frame, which extends in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The closed cross slide frame enables a simple and stable construction of the rail grinding machine and flexible adjustability of the grinding unit.

The invention relates to a rail grinding machine for grinding rails of a track in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

DE 20 2017 000 696 U1 discloses a rail grinding machine, the grinding unit of which is flexibly adjustable. For this purpose, the grinding machine has a cross slide, which is mounted movably on a machine frame. Secured on the cross slide is an intermediate frame, on which a motor frame is mounted in such a way as to be vertically adjustable and pivotable about a vertical axis. The grinding unit is, in turn, mounted pivotably on the motor frame.

It is the underlying object of the invention to provide a rail grinding machine which is of a simple and stable construction and allows flexible adjustability of the grinding unit.

This object is achieved by means of a rail grinding machine having the features of claim 1. By virtue of the fact that the cross slide comprises a closed cross slide frame, the cross slide is extremely stable, thus enabling the grinding unit to be flexibly adjusted and arranged in a stable manner on the cross slide in a simple way. In particular, the cross slide frame forms a closed ring body, which is more stable than a U-shaped body known from the prior art. The cross slide frame extends in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. By virtue of the closed cross slide frame, the cross slide is simple to use for the arrangement of the flexibly adjustable grinding unit.

The cross slide frame extends in the longitudinal direction, which corresponds to a direction of movement of the rail grinding machine and is also referred to below as the x direction. Furthermore, the closed cross slide frame extends in the transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is also referred to below as the y direction. A vertical direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, is also referred to below as the z direction. The x, y and z directions form a Cartesian coordinate system.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 2 ensures a simple and stable construction. By means of the crossmembers and the longitudinal members, the closed cross slide frame is formed in a simple manner. The crossmembers extend in the transverse direction and are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the crossmembers extend parallel to one another. The longitudinal members connect the crossmembers to one another. The longitudinal members extend in the longitudinal direction and are spaced apart in the transverse direction. In particular, the longitudinal members extend parallel to one another. The crossmembers and the longitudinal members are preferably connected to one another at the ends, with the result that the closed cross slide frame has a rectangular shape in plan view.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 3 ensures a simple and stable construction as well as flexible adjustability of the grinding unit. The cross slide comprises first cross slide guide rollers, which—when viewed in the vertical direction—are arranged above second cross slide guide rollers. The first cross slide guide rollers rest against an upper side of the machine frame, whereas the second cross slide guide rollers rest against a lower side of the machine frame. Thus—when viewed in the vertical direction—the machine frame extends between the first cross slide guide rollers and the second cross slide guide rollers. At least two first cross slide guide rollers and at least one second cross slide guide roller are arranged on each of the crossmembers of the cross slide frame, for example, ensuring that the cross slide is guided precisely and in a stable manner or without play on the machine frame. In particular, the cross slide guide rollers are of self-centering design, with the result that they center or align themselves on the machine frame by virtue of their cross-sectional shape. To move the cross slide in the transverse direction, the rail grinding machine preferably has a cross slide spindle drive, which can be actuated manually, for example.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 4 ensures a simple and stable construction as well as flexible adjustability of the grinding unit. The guide frame allows arrangement of the grinding unit in a simple manner in such a way that the grinding unit is linearly adjustable in a vertical direction and/or is pivotable about a pivoting axis. The guide frame is preferably mounted pivotably on the cross slide. In particular, the guide frame is arranged on the closed cross slide frame, with the result that the guide frame additionally reinforces the cross slide frame.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 5 ensures flexible adjustability of the grinding unit. By virtue of the pivoting axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to grind the rail laterally. The guide frame is preferably pivotable through at least 60°, in particular through at least 90°, and, in particular, through at least 120°, around the pivoting axis.

The guide frame is preferably mounted on the closed cross slide frame by means of two pivot bearings. For this purpose, for example, the guide frame has two guide columns which are mounted pivotably on the closed cross slide frame. In particular, the guide frame is pivotable about the pivoting axis by means of a guide frame drive. The guide frame drive is manually actuable, for example. The guide frame drive comprises a spindle drive or a rack drive, for example.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 6 ensures a simple and stable construction as well as flexible adjustability of the grinding unit. The guide columns and the connecting members connecting said columns preferably form a U shape. The guide columns are arranged on the closed cross slide frame, in particular at the ends. The guide columns are preferably attached pivotably to the crossmembers. The guide columns extend parallel to one another and allow linearly adjustable arrangement of the grinding unit. The connecting member connects and stabilizes the guide columns. In particular, a grinding unit spindle drive for the linear movement of the grinding unit in the vertical direction is secured on the connecting member. The grinding unit spindle drive is manually actuable, for example. The connecting member connects the guide columns at a guide frame end remote from the cross slide, thus ensuring that the grinding unit arranged on the guide frame has free access to the rail.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 7 ensures flexible adjustability of the grinding unit. The grinding unit is preferably mounted on two sides on the guide frame, in particular by means of a grinding unit support. The guide frame is preferably mounted pivotably on the cross slide frame, thus enabling the grinding unit to be moved linearly in the vertical direction and pivoted about a pivoting axis.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 8 ensures a simple and stable construction. The grinding unit support is arranged movably on the guide frame and stabilizes the guide frame in a simple manner. The grinding unit support preferably has two support columns, which are guided on both sides on the guide frame, in particular on the associated guide columns. The grinding unit support preferably has a fixing device, thus enabling the grinding unit to be fixed in a desired grinding position relative to the guide frame.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 9 ensures a simple and stable construction. The fact that the grinding unit support comprises a closed support frame enables the grinding unit to be secured in a simple and stable manner and additionally allows stabilization of the guide frame. The support frame comprises two support columns, which extend substantially in the vertical direction and are mounted movably on the guide columns. The support columns are preferably of tubular design, thus ensuring that they are guided in a simple and reliable manner on the guide columns. For this purpose, the guide columns each extend through one of the support columns. The support columns are connected to one another by longitudinal members. The longitudinal members extend substantially in the longitudinal direction and are arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction. The longitudinal members connect the support columns substantially at the ends. The grinding unit is secured on a first longitudinal member nearer to the cross slide. The grinding unit is arranged in a fixed manner, i.e. not in a movable manner, relative to the grinding unit support. Secured on a second longitudinal member further away from the cross slide there is, in particular, a grinding unit spindle drive for moving the grinding unit support in the vertical direction. The closed support frame delimits an interior space in which a drive motor of the grinding unit is at least partially arranged.

A rail grinding machine as claimed in claim 10 ensures a simple and stable construction as well as flexible adjustability of the grinding unit. By virtue of the fact that the grinding unit support is mounted movably on the guide columns, the guide frame and the grinding unit support are stabilized. The cross slide, the guide frame and the grinding unit support enable the grinding unit to be adjusted in a simple and flexible manner to machine the respective rail.

Further features, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a first perspective view of a rail grinding machine,

FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the rail grinding machine in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the rail grinding machine in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the rail grinding machine along section line IV-IV in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a machine frame and a cross slide, guided thereon, of the rail grinding machine,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the cross slide and of a grinding unit, which is mounted in a linearly movable and pivotable manner on the cross slide by means of a guide frame and of a grinding unit support, and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 6 without the grinding unit.

A rail grinding machine 1 is in each case used to grind one rail 2 of a track and has a machine frame 3, which is guided on the rail 2 via guide rollers 4. By way of an outrigger 5, the machine frame 3 is supported on the other rail 2 of the track via guide rollers 4. Arranged on the machine frame 3 is a handle 6, by means of which the grinding machine 1 can be moved manually on the rails 2. The guide rollers 4 define a direction of movement of the grinding machine 1, which is also referred to below as the longitudinal direction or x direction.

The machine frame 3 has machine frame longitudinal members 7, 8 and machine frame crossmembers 9, 10, which are connected to one another, with the result that the machine frame 3 has a closed shape. The machine frame longitudinal members 7, 8 extend in the x direction and are spaced apart in a y direction perpendicular to the x direction. The y direction is also referred to below as the transverse direction. The machine frame crossmembers 9, 10 extend in the y direction and are spaced apart in the x direction. At the ends, the machine frame crossmembers 9, 10 are secured on the machine frame longitudinal members 7, 8, with the result that the machine frame 3 has a rectangular shape. The outrigger 5 is arranged in the machine frame crossmembers 9, 10 in a manner which allows a telescopic movement, and therefore the guide rollers 4 are spaced apart in a variable manner in the y direction.

A cross slide 11 is mounted on the machine frame 3. The cross slide 11 can be moved relative to the machine frame 3 in the y direction by means of a cross slide spindle drive 12. The cross slide 11 has a closed cross slide frame 13, which is formed by longitudinal members 14, 15 and by cross-members 16, 17. The longitudinal members 14, 15 extend in the x direction and are spaced apart in the y direction. The longitudinal members 14, 15 are connected to one another at the ends by means of the crossmembers 16, 17, with the result that the cross slide frame 13 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The crossmembers 16, 17 extend in the y direction and are spaced apart in the x direction.

The crossmembers 16, 17 each comprise a first portion 18, which connects the longitudinal members 14, 15 to one another, and a second portion 19, which—when viewed in a vertical direction—extends downward approximately centrally from the respective first portion 18. The vertical direction is also referred to below as the z direction and is perpendicular to the x direction and the y direction. The x, y and z directions thus form a Cartesian coordinate system.

First cross slide guide rollers 20 are rotatably mounted on the respective crossmember 16, 17, on the respective first portion 18, on both sides of the associated second portion 19. Moreover, a second cross slide guide roller 21 is rotatably mounted on the respective crossmember 16, 17, on the respective second portion 19. The first cross slide guide rollers 20 are mounted at a distance from the second cross slide guide rollers 21 in the z direction, with the result that the first cross slide guide rollers 20 rest against an upper side of the machine frame 3, whereas the second cross slide guide rollers 21 rest against a lower side of the machine frame 3. The cross slide guide rollers 20, 21 have a self-centering cross-sectional shape, and therefore the cross slide 11 is guided in a self-centering manner on the machine frame 3.

The cross slide spindle drive 12 is secured on the cross slide 11 and the machine frame 3 and can be actuated manually by means of a handwheel 22, thus enabling the cross slide 11 to be moved in the y direction.

A guide frame 23 is mounted on the cross slide 11 in such a way as to be pivotable about a pivoting axis 24. The guide frame 23 comprises two guide columns 25, 26 and a connecting member 27 connecting the guide columns 25, 26. At the ends, the guide columns 25, 26 are each arranged on one of the second portions 19 of the crossmembers 16, 17. For this purpose, the guide columns 25, 26 are connected to the cross slide frame 13 by means of a respective pivot bearing 28, 29. The pivot bearings 28, 29 comprise pivot pins, which, starting from the second portions 19, extend through associated holes in the guide columns 25, 26 and thus form the pivoting axis 24. The pivoting axis 24 extends parallel to the x direction. When viewed in plan view, the closed cross slide frame 13 delimits an interior space in which the guide frame 23 is mounted.

The guide columns 25, 26 extend parallel to one another and are connected by means of the connecting member 27 at an opposite end from the pivoting axis 24. The guide frame 23 thus has a U shape. To pivot the guide frame 23, the grinding machine 1 has a guide frame drive 30. The guide frame drive 30 is secured on the cross slide 11 and the guide frame 23 and can be actuated manually by means of a handwheel 31. The guide frame 23 is pivotable relative to the cross slide 11 through at least 60°, in particular through at least 90°, and, in particular, through at least 120°, around the pivoting axis 24.

The grinding machine 1 has a grinding unit 32, which is mounted on the guide frame 23 by means of a grinding unit support 33. The grinding unit 32 can thus be moved in the y direction by means of the cross slide 11 and pivoted about the pivoting axis 24 by means of the guide frame 23. The grinding unit support 33 is arranged on the guide frame 23 in such a way as to be pivotable in the z direction. The grinding unit support 33 comprises a closed support frame 34. The support frame 34 is formed by support columns 35, 36 and by longitudinal members 37, 38 connecting said columns. The support columns 35, 36 are of tubular design. The guide columns 25, 26 each extend through one of the support columns 35, 36, with the result that the latter columns are guided movably on the guide columns 25, 26. At the ends, the support columns 35, 36 are connected by the longitudinal members 37, 38, with the result that the support frame 34 forms the closed shape. The longitudinal members 37, 38 extend in the x direction and are spaced apart in the z direction. The grinding unit 32 is secured in a fixed manner, i.e. without the ability for movement, on the first longitudinal member 37, that nearer to the cross slide 11. For movement of the support frame 34, the grinding machine 1 has a grinding unit spindle drive 39, which is secured on the connecting member 27 and on the second longitudinal member 38, which is further away from the cross slide 11. The grinding unit spindle drive 39 can be actuated manually by means of a handwheel 40.

The grinding unit 32 has a drive motor 41 and a grinding tool 42, which can be driven in rotation about an axis of rotation 43 by means of the drive motor 41. When viewed in the z direction, the grinding tool 42 is arranged below the longitudinal member 37, whereas the drive motor 41 is arranged above the longitudinal member 37. The drive motor 41 extends at least partially into an interior space delimited by the support frame 34.

By virtue of the closed machine frame 3, the closed cross slide frame 13 and the closed support frame 34, the grinding machine 1 has a simple and stable construction. By virtue of the linearly movable cross slide 11, the pivotable guide frame 23 and the linearly movable grinding unit support 33 or support frame 34, the grinding unit 32 can be adjusted in a flexible manner to grind rails 2. 

cm 1-10. (canceled)
 11. A rail grinding machine for grinding rails of a track, the rail grinding machine comprising: a machine frame; a plurality of guide rollers for manual movement of the rail grinding machine in a longitudinal direction, said guide rollers being rotatably mounted on said machine frame; a cross slide mounted on said machine frame in such a way as to be movable in a transverse direction, said cross slide having a closed cross slide frame; and a grinding unit being movable in the transverse direction by means of said cross slide.
 12. The rail grinding machine according to claim 11, wherein said closed cross slide frame has longitudinal members and crossmembers, said crossmembers extending in the transverse direction and are connected to said longitudinal members extending in the longitudinal direction.
 13. The rail grinding machine according to claim 11, wherein for movement in the transverse direction, said cross slide has a plurality of cross slide guide rollers, which are disposed spaced apart in a vertical direction.
 14. The rail grinding machine according to claim 11, further comprising a guide frame disposed on said cross slide.
 15. The rail grinding machine according to claim 14, wherein said guide frame is mounted on said cross slide in such a way as to be pivotable about a pivoting axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction.
 16. The rail grinding machine according to claim 14, wherein said guide frame contains two guide columns and a connecting member connecting said two guide columns.
 17. The rail grinding machine according to claim 14, wherein said grinding unit is mounted on said guide frame in such a way as to be movable in a vertical direction.
 18. The rail grinding machine according to claim 14, further comprising a grinding unit support mounted on said guide frame in such a way as to be movable in a vertical direction, said grinding unit is secured on said grinding unit support.
 19. The rail grinding machine according to claim 18, wherein said grinding unit support contains a closed support frame.
 20. The rail grinding machine according to claim 18, wherein said guide frame has guide columns, said grinding unit support is mounted movably on said guide columns of said guide frame. 